Are you looking for the best nootropic stack for yourself? Do you wanna feel smart as a superhero? Here is my list with all nootropics I tested in from 2019 to 2020.
- Neurohacker’s Qualia Mind
- Neurohacker’s Qualia Mind Caffeine Free
- Neurohacker’s Qualia Mind Essentials (Focus)
- Onnit’s Alpha Brain
- Alpha Brain Black Label
- Opti Nutra’s Mind Lab Pro
- Huperzine A
- Qualia Mind vs. Qualia Mind Essentials
- Mind Lab Pro vs. Qualia Mind
- Mind Lab Pro vs. Alpha Brain
- General Nootropic Advice
- Footnotes
You’ll find my 30-day reviews, benefits, side effects, ingredients and a comparison between all of them on this page. I will update this nootropic overview from time to time.
Last update: Dec 4, 2021.
Neurohacker’s Qualia Mind
Qualia Mind is a premium nootropic stack made by Neurohacker Collective. In a nutshell: It’s my favorite nootropic (stack) so far.
Benefits
- Easier to focus & harder to distract
- Faster in a Flow state
- Broad ocean of awareness / Increased overall presence
- Improved my Quantified Mind scores by an average of 7.4%
For me, Qualia Mind is really unique in adding what I call “the broad ocean of awareness” to the increased focus. No other nootropic could do that for me yet. If you apply the basic principle of Flow, which means working 90 – 120 minutes uninterrupted on one task, it will probably accelerate your learning, execution, and quality of work.
Qualia Mind Video Review after 1 Year
Side Effects
In the first week of taking Qualia Mind, I took it first thing in the morning before breakfast. I had slight stomach upsets for about an hour after taking it on the first two days. Here is how I resolved those side effects: Instead of before breakfast, I took them with breakfast. Pretty simple solution.
Qualia Mind Ingredients
Pricing & Dosage
Qualia Mind’s suggested dosage is seven capsules a day with five days on and two days off a week. For me, this worked fine.
| Purchase | Price | Supply at Suggested Dosage |
| One time | $139 | 154 capsules = 1 month supply |
| Monthly Subscription | $119 | 154 capsules |
| Monthly Subscription First Month | $69.50 | 154 capsules |
| Discount Code* | -15% | Code: MAXHUG |
Links
Neurohacker’s Qualia Mind Caffeine Free
I will make this review a little shorter than the others. Qualia Mind Caffeine Free is really 98% like Qualia Mind.
Benefits
- Same focusing effects as the standard Qualia Mind stack
- Same overall awareness and general presence as Qualia Mind
- Great if you are caffeine sensitive or just have ‘enough’ coffee every day through your usual morning (biohacking) coffee
- Great to get into a state of Flow
Qualia Mind vs. Caffeine Free
Personally, I find the effect is a little less strong with Qualia Mind Caffeine Free compared to the standard Qualia Mind. But only, if I don’t drink it with coffee.
When I have a small cup (130 ml) of coffee in the morning with 7 Qualia Mind Caffeine Free pills – It’s the same effect as taking the standard Qualia Mind.
I also tried it with decaf coffee. FYI: Decaf coffee is not completely caffeine-free. When I drank 2 cups of decaf coffee I felt the benefits stronger.
Side Effects
- I didn’t have any side effects with Qualia Mind Caffeine Free
Qualia Mind Caffeine Free Ingredients
In the caffeine-free version of Qualia Mind, two compounds are missing and one is in a lower dosage compared to the standard version:
- Anhydrous Caffeine (0 vs. 90 mg)
- Theobromine (0 vs. 100 mg)
- DHA (as Docosahexaenoic Acid from Algae) (80 vs. 200 mg)
Pricing & Dosage
The suggested serving size is seven capsules a day with five days on and two days off a week. For me, 7 capsules work really well.
| Purchase | Price | Supply at Suggested Dosage |
| One time | $139 | 154 capsules = 1 month supply |
| Monthly Subscription | $119 | 154 capsules |
| Monthly Subscription First Month | $69.50 | 154 capsules |
| Discount Code* | -15% | Code: MAXHUG |
Links
Qualia Mind Caffeine Free (Neurohacker.com)
Neurohacker’s Qualia Mind Essentials (Focus)
Qualia Mind Essentials (previously named Qualia Focus) is made by the same Neurohacker Collective that also makes Qualia Mind. Qualia Mind Essentials is a lower budget version of Qualia Mind.
If you wanna learn more about the differences in Qualia Mind Essentials vs. Qualia Mind see the comparison below which also explains the 4 compounds missing in Focus and the one compounds where Focus actually as a higher dosage than Mind.
Benefits
- Increased focus
- Faster “in the zone” / in Flow work mode
- Harder to distract
It works especially well if you follow the basics of Flow triggers: 90 – 120 min uninterrupted work on one task combined with 8 hours of sleep a night.
Side Effects
I didn’t experience any side effects with Qualia Mind Essentials.
Qualia Mind Essentials Ingredients
Pricing & Dosage
Qualia Mind Essentials’ suggested dosage is five capsules a day with five days on and two days off a week. I actually took less: For me, just three capsules a day were totally enough to get the benefits. Through this, one bottle lasts longer than a month for me.
| Purchase | Price | Supply at Suggested Dosage |
| One time | $69 | 100 capsules = 1 month supply |
| Monthly Subscription | $59 | 100 capsules |
| Monthly Subscription First Month | $34.50 | 100 capsules |
| Discount Code* | -15% | Code: MAXHUG |
Links
Onnit’s Alpha Brain
I actually went to the Onnit Gym in Austin Texas and bought my bottle of Alpha Brain there. I know a lot of people who take Alpha Brain but was not convinced due to the side effects I experienced.
Benefits
- Increased Focus
- Less distracted
Again getting the basics right is super important to get the benefits out of nootropics.
Side effects
- Heart palpitations
- Nervousness
Alpha Brain is the nootropic I personally experienced the worst side effects. This also the only nootropic I know multiple people who claim to had negative side effects, too.
Alpha Brain Ingredients
Interestingly Onnit does not state the precise amounts per ingredient for most active compounds. Instead, Onnit states the amount per serving of multiple ingredients combined as “Onnit Flow Blend”. Therefore most ingredients below state a value of “n/a”.
| Ingredient | Amount Per Serving |
| Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine HCI) | 10 mg |
| Onnit Flow Blend | 650 mg |
| L-Tyrosine | n/a |
| L-Theanine | n/a |
| Oat (straw) Extract | n/a |
| Phosphatidylserine | n/a |
| Cat’s Claw (bark) Extract (ac-11) | 350 mg |
| Onnit Focus Blend | 240 mg |
| L-Alpha GPC | 139.6 mg** |
| Bacopa Extract (aerial parts) | 100 mg |
| Huperzia serrata Extract (aerial parts) [Standardized to 1% Huperzine A] | 400 mcg |
| Onnit Fuel Blend | 65 mg |
| L-Leucine | n/a |
| Vinpocetine | 5 mg |
| Pterostilbene | n/a |
**Based on simple math: 240 mg Focus Blend minus 100 mg Bacopa extract (which is stated) minus 0.4 mg (400 mcg) Huperzia serrate Extract (which is also stated) equals 139,6 mg.
Other ingredients: Vegetarian Capsule, Maltodextrin, Dicalcium Phosphate, Rice Hull Concentrate (NuFlow)
Pricing & Dosage
The suggested serving size is two capsules a day with no days off. Onnit offers different bottle sizes. Here is the overview with all of the available ones as of July 13, 2019.
Note that Onnit currently only ships Alpha Brain to U.S. shipping addresses.
| Purchase | Price | Price per month*** | Supply at Suggested Dosage |
| One time | $79.95 | $53.30 | 90 capsules = 1 ½ month supply |
| One time | $59.88 | $59.88 | 60 capsules = 1 month supply |
| One time | $34.95 | $69.80 | 30 capsules = 15 days |
| One time | $18.75 | $80.36 | 14 capsules = 7 days |
| Subscription (Every 2 weeks to 3 months) | -15 % | -15 % | On any bottle size |
***Assuming you buy one month supply in the same bottle size
Links
- My Alpha Brain Review
- Onnit.com (Get 10% off your order with coupon code MAXHUG – Doesn’t apply to subscriptions or discounted items)
Alpha Brain Black Label
Alpha Brain Black Label is the new (2021) and higher-end version of Alpha Brain. Checkout my detailed review and comparison between Alpha Brain (regular) and Alpha Brain Black Label here.
Overall I think Black Label is way better than the regular version.
Benefits
- Increased Focus and Memory
- Faster in Flow states
Side Effects
- Some nervousness (less than regular Alpha Brain)
Links
Buy Alpha Brain Black Label at Onnit – Get 10% off with coupon code MAXHUG – Only for one-time purchases and not discounted items.
Opti Nutra’s Mind Lab Pro
Opti-Nutra is a UK company based in London who manufactures a nootropic stack called Mind Lab Pro in the United States.
They claim that Mind Lab Pro
meets the brain’s complex needs with 11 nootropics working in 6 bio-pathways to optimise a wide array of cognitive functions
Mind Lab Pro’s website
I’ve tested it for 30 days and here is my personal assessment.
My Mind Lab Pro video review
Benefits
- Increased focused and thereby more productive
- Less distracted by surroundings
I am currently writing this nootropic overview on Mind Lab Pro. I really like the effect of focus and productivity. Especially on this low dose of just two capsules a day.
It even helps to stay focused when someone vacuums around the desk I am working at.
Side Effects
I did not feel any side effects of Mind Lab Pro.
Mind Lab Pro Ingredients
| Ingredient | Amount Per Serving |
| Vitamin B6 (as BioGenesis) | 2.5 mg |
| Vitamin B9 (as BioGenesis) | 100 mcg |
| Vitamin B12 (as BioGenesis) | 7.5 mcg |
| Citicolin (as Cognizin) | 250 mg |
| Bacopa Monnieri (as full spectrum extract with 24% bacosides with 9 bioactives) (aerial parts) | 150 mg |
| Lion’s Mane Mushroom (full spectrum) (fruit) | 500 mg |
| Phosphatidylserine (as Sharp-PS Green from sunflower lecithin) | 100 mg |
| N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine | 175 mg |
| L-Theanine (as Suntheanine) | 100 mg |
| Rhodiola Rosea (3% rosavins, 1% salidrosides) (root) | 50 mg |
| Maritime Pine Bark Extract | 75 mcg |
Other Ingredients (the boring non-active ones): NutraCaps Pullulan Capsules, NuFlow Rice Concentrate.
Pricing & Dosage
The suggested dosage is two to for capsules a day with no days off. I personally like the effect of two capsules. Mind Lab Pro offers no subscription but a discount if you order more than one bottle.
| Purchase | Price | Supply at Suggested Dosage |
| One bottle | $65 / €55 | 60 capsules = ½ to 1 month |
| Two bottles | $130 / €110 | 120 capsules = 1 to 2 month |
| Four bottles (3+1 Deal) | $ 195 / €165 | 240 capsules = 2 to 4 months |
Links
Huperzine A
Huperzine A is an active compound extracted from the Chinese club moss Huperzia serrata. It is used in some nootropic stacks like Alpha Brain. I tested tablets made by a company called Source Naturals.
Benefits
I didn’t notice any benefits.
Different manufacturers claim different benefits. Source Naturals says it can reduce a mild memory loss.
Side Effects
It didn’t notice any side effects.
Huperzine A Ingredients
The Source Naturals product contains 200 mcg Huperzine A per tablet.
Pricing & Dosage
The suggested serving size is one tablet per day. I tried even two and three tablets a day but still did not notice any effects.
You can get one bottle with 120 tablets for $25 / €29 on Amazon.
Links
Qualia Mind vs. Qualia Mind Essentials
| Qualia Mind | Qualia Mind Essentials | |
| Benefits | + Easier to Focus + Harder to distract + Faster in Flow + Overall awareness + Increased Quantified Mind | + Easier to Focus + Harder to distract + Faster in Flow (more narrow) |
| Side Effects | + none**** | + none |
| Ingredients | + 22 active compounds + higher dosages | + 18 active compounds |
| Pricing as Subscription | $119 | $59 |
| Dosage | 7 capsules a day | 5 capsules a day |
| The Hug Score | 5/5 | 4/5 |
**** Besides from my slight stomach upset in the first days which was gone after I took Qualia Mind with breakfast instead of an empty stomach
Comparison of Benefits
No doubt: I prefer Qualia Mind over Qualia Mind Essentials. The overall awareness is unique in Qualia Mind and the Flow state seems to be wider and more creative. Qualia Mind Essentials works but just not as well as Qualia Mind.
Comparison of Ingredients
Qualia Mind uses 22 active ingredients whereas Qualia Mind Essnetials ‘only’ got 18 active compounds. Some of the active compounds are in a higher dosage in Qualia Mind.
Vitamins
Both nootropic stacks contain the same amount of Vitamin C, D3, B6, B12 as-well as Niacin and Pantothenic Acid.
Active compounds
These four active compounds are missing in Qualia Mind Essentials:
- Pyrroloquinoline Quinone
- DHA (as Docosahexaenoic Acid from Algae)
- Phosphatidylserine (Sharp-PS Green)
- Cognizin Citicoline
Dosages
Qualia Mind Essentials is lower in these compounds:
- Acetyl-L-Carnitine HCI (250 mg vs. 500 mg in Qualia Mind)
- Artichoke Stem and Leaf Extract (5% cynarin) (300 mg vs. 500 mg)
- Thodiola rosea Root (150 mg vs. 300 mg)
Interestingly Qualia Mind Essentials uses higher dosage of Alpha-Glyceryl Phosphoryl Choline (Alpha GPC): Qualia Mind uses 200 mg whereas Qualia Mind Essentials uses 300 mg.
Summary
Overall you get a great bang for the buck with Qualia Mind Essentials. It’s got most of the ingredients of the higher-priced Qualia Mind but for half the price. Still if you want the best performance I’d recommend Qualia Mind for the added broader awareness.
Mind Lab Pro vs. Qualia Mind
| Mind Lab Pro | Qualia Mind | |
| Benefits | + Improved Focus + Harder to distract | + Easier to Focus + Harder to distract + Faster in Flow + Overall awareness + Increased Quantified Mind |
| Side Effects | + none | + none**** |
| Ingredients | + 8 active compounds + higher in Citicoline | + 22 active compounds + higher dosages for most shared compounds |
| Pricing as Subscription | $65 / €55** | $119 |
| Dosage | 2 capsules a day | 7 capsules a day |
| The Hug Score | 4/5 | 5/5 |
**Mind Lab Pro does not offer subscriptions
Comparison of Benefits
Mind Lab Pro increases my focus. It also helps me to stay on the task and ignore outside distractions like noises. In that sense, it works very well.
Qualia Mind does the above, too. It also adds a broad calm awareness and overall presence. I like the combination of those two benefits a lot. That’s why I chose Qualia Mind over Mind Lab Pro when just looking at the benefits.
Comparison of Ingredients
Overall Mind Lab Pro uses eight active compounds plus three vitamins whereas Qualia Mind uses 22 active compounds plus six vitamins.
Vitamins
Mind Lab Pro contains the following vitamins as ‘BioGenesis’. They claim that BioGenesis vitamins are
…are structurally identical to nutrients in whole foods
https://www.mindlabpro.com/eu/quality/
This is done by a patented process and should increase the bioavailability of the nutrients.
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin B9
- Vitamin B12
Qualia Mind contains:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D3
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin B12
- Niacin
- Pantothenic Acid
Active Compounds
These two active compounds are only in Mind Lab Pro:
- Lion’s Mane Mushroom (full spectrum) (fruit) 500 mg
- Maritime Pine Bark Extract (95% proanthocyanidins) 75 mg
Besides the higher dosage of the four compounds below, Qualia Mind includes 16 (!) active compounds that are only in Qualia Mind.
Dosages
Interestingly, Mind Lab Pro uses twice the amount of Citicoline (as Cognizin) (250 mg vs. 150 mg) as Qualia Mind.
Qualia Mind is higher in these four compounds:
- Bacopa Monnieri (300 mg vs. 150 mg)
- N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine (250 mg vs. 175 mg)
- L-Theanine (200 mg vs. 100 mg)
- Rhodiola Rosea (300 mg vs. 50 mg)
The Bacopa Monnieri extract in Qualia Mind is not just twice the dosage but also uses a 50% bacosides extract whereas Mind Lab Pro uses an extract with only 24% bacosides.
Summary
Qualia Mind is still my favorite nootropic stack. For me, it creates not just an increased focus but also an overall presence and awareness. Mind Lab Pro for half the price does a great job at increasing focus with way fewer ingredients and only two pills to swallow.
Mind Lab Pro vs. Alpha Brain
| Mind Lab Pro | Alpha Brain | |
| Benefits | + Improved Focus + Harder to distract | + Easier to Focus |
| Side Effects | + none | + Heart palpitations + Nervousness |
| Ingredients | + 11 active compounds | + 11 active compounds + proprietary blend: Dosage of single ingredients unknown |
| Pricing (1 month) | $65 / €55 | $59.88 |
| Dosage | 2 capsules a day | 7 capsules a day |
| The Hug Score | 4/5 | 2/5 |
Mind Lab Pro vs. Alpha Brain Summary
I prefer the effect of Mind Lab Pro. The focus feels more consistent and I don’t get weird side effects from MLP. I don’t recommend Alpha Brain because of the side effects I had. The focusing effect is also weaker than with Mind Lab Pro.
Order Mind Lab Pro here
General Nootropic Advice
Do Your Own Experiment
In the biohacking community, there is the saying ‘Your mileage may vary’.
This means that all biohacking optimization and habits including nootropics can have a different effect on everyone.
Steven Kotler from the Flow Research Collective likes to say:
Do your own experiment
Steven Kotler
This is what I am doing and sharing on my blog here. And trying out two to three different nootropics can definitely help to feel the different effects between them.
This is no medical advice. Results can vary and these are my personal experiences with the above-mentioned nootropics.
Master the Basics
The bad (or good?) news is: There is no pill that can fix an unhealthy lifestyle.
Get the basics right for your mind and body:
- 8 hours of high-quality sleep
- No coffee after 11 am
- Meditate, do yoga or some sort of embodied cognition exercise at least two to three times a week
- Find some inspiration on my biohacking habits list
The Basics for Flow
Do one project or task without interruption for at least 90 minutes.
Which means: Your phone is in airplane mode, your Gmail tab is closed and you tell your co-workers politely to leave you alone for 90 minutes. Even better: Stay away from an office with co-workers and do home or remote office for the day.
The ‘classic’ flow research (#1 & #2) shows that you need 60 to 90 minutes to get into a Flow state. From my experience (especially with Qualia Mind) this can happen within 20 minutes with the right basics and the right nootropic stack.
Footnotes
*If you use those coupon codes, you get the best price plus an additional discount and I get a small commission that supports this blog and my biohacking nerd experiments, a true win-win 🙂
Felix
Hello Max, thank you for sharing your experiences.
Do you have any knowledge of negative effects of nootropika and ADHD stimulants like Medikinet (MPH)?
Is there any research that notroopika can benefit people with ADHD?
Thanks in advance,
Felix
Max Hug
Hi Felix,
I am not a doctor and have no experience with nootropics and people with ADHD.
Ask your doctor 🙂
Best wishes
Max
Paolo R Berni
Hi Max, I personally found Qualia Mind better to, especially for creativity and an overall more centred, serene and and almost spiritual feeling, at peace if you like. A question I have for you is, why isn’t Lion’s Mane in the formula because it was in the original two step product and would you recommend adding it?
Paolo
Max Hug
Hi Paolo,
that is a good question. I don’t know why they removed Lion’s Mane from the formula. My guess is that it just did not add any more effect.
But as a biohacker, why not try it out for yourself if you notice any difference? Let me know what your result is.
✌🏻
Max